...The slightest thought of public speaking can bring an overwhelming fear to most people. It can cause someone to shake and sweat and even have heart palpitations when it’s mentioned. There are a number of different reasons an individual may fear public speaking and in order to overcome that fear it is important to identify those reasons. For some the thought of public speaking can bring fear because they doubt their abilities or feel they may fail their audience. Others may not want to be judged by their audience or they simply feel vulnerable when speaking in front of an audience. One writer, Christopher Carlin states that no matter what your reason for public speaking is it is best to overcome your fears and become an active public speaker (Carlin, 2008). Overcoming a fear of public speaking can be done with hard work, dedication and practice. The more an individual takes an opportunity to speak in front of an audience they more comfortable they will become. According to one article the good thing about overcoming your fear of public speaking is that the fear is learned and with lots of determination and practice this fear can be unlearned (Colombo, n.d.). For me personally public speaking has never been one of my great fears. Luckily, at a young age I was taught to be comfortable with speaking in front of any type of audience, large or small. In middle school and high school I participate on a debate team as well as the school’s drama club. In both activities I...
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...it is the fear of public speaking. Public speaking is a common fear that plagues most, some cases more severe than others. However, you never really know how serious the issue is until it is time to get up and deliver that speech to the crowd. Bruna Martinuzzi’s article “11 Easy Ways to Finally Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking” attempts to eradicate the source of tension caused by the fear of addressing a crowd, while Nick Morgan’s, “Bad Rules Never Seem to Die: the Five Worst Rules of Public Speaking” dispels the typical remedies and advice for uneasiness. Through rhetorical strategies such as the use of common ground, credible support, and structure Martinuzzi approaches the topic with the intention to aid the fear-stricken while Morgan utilizes bias and tone to tell his audience why all other information on the subject is invalid. In the article ’11 Easy Ways to Finally Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking” the author says the best way in attempting to manage your fear is to first understand what is causing it. Martinuzzi goes deep into talking saying “understanding that our brain can not tell the difference between a real threat (a pack of wolves about to attack you) and an imagined threat (a group of your peers watching you present) is the first step to overcoming the fear. She uses Berkun as a as a reference to back up her explanation of the root of fear. This helps you know that she has references to helping you understand your fear of public speaking. Martinuzzi...
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...Public Speaking: Fear at its Finest The day when I spot a big, black, hairy spider and refrain from screaming will most likely never come. But, the day when I am one hundred percent confident to give a public speech is somewhere in the near future. How do I know this? Through my public speaking course this semester, I completed an anxiety survey. Although I was already aware that I have a slight fear of public communication, this self-examination revealed to me my speaking apprehension score that was labeled with a specific level of anxiety. Not only, though, was I faced with a given intensity of anxiety, I was learning things about myself that I never thought I would obtain such an insight to. Moderate: the level at which my public speaking apprehension score happened to fall. I recognized right away that I wasn’t necessarily in the higher or lower range. This assisted me in looking at the glass as half full, which happens to be an obligation if I plan to eliminate this category of anxiety from my life. As I sat and thought about my score, it hit me that I over emphasized my partial fear of publicly speaking in front of large groups of people. What I thought was going to be the end of the world was really just normal amounts of tension, stress, and anxiety that I was way too easily letting get to me. Seeing these results brought to my attention strengths that can assist my in kicking public speaking anxiety: I radiate optimism, am smart and energetic, and I have confidence...
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...Reports have indicated that public speaking anxiety is a prevalent social fear among most Americans (Jackson, Compton, Thornton, & Dimmock). Public speaking anxiety can also affect your work and social interactions with others. Numerous people experience nervousness when giving a public presentation. However, to certain people the fear of public speaking affects their ability to deliver an excellent presentation. I am generally a very outspoken person so most of my colleagues do not realize my fear of public speaking. Fortunately, there are various strategies that I can implement into my routine that can help alleviate some of my anxiety such as: focusing on friendly faces, familiarizing myself with the audience members before the presentation, and engaging in relaxation techniques (Cardon, 2013)....
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...your like or dislike (one to two (1-2) sentences). My dislike is pubic speaking; it has been a very difficult thing to do throughout my entre life. Public speaking is some what terrifying to me and I would try to run the other way every time. Describe the subfield (e.g., cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, psychoanalytic psychology, etc.) you believe is best suited for providing psychological insight into your preference (the fact that you like or dislike the thing you do) and why you believe it is so. I would choose Experimental psychology for my subfield. I believe it would relate to my fear of public speaking. The Experimental psychology is pertaining to all basic psychological process including perception, learning and motivation. My main fear of public speaking is based of the perception of others. And all I can think at the time is what they think of me and what I am saying. The learning part would be based of the passed my childhood. I could of learned the to fear public speaking due to other around me fearing it as well. And the motivational peace of it could come from no one acutely motivating me and teaching me how not to fear public speaking. Discuss how biological bases of behavior (including sensation and perception) have contributed to your preference. The biological bases of the behavior of my public speaking issues are of so many different factors. I believe it starts first in my brain and how it takes in the information and the false...
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...A special skill that I have is presentations and public speaking. My presentations and public speaking skills can be utilized for business, sales, and training. Presentations skills and public speaking skills are very useful in many aspects of work and life. Effective presentations and public speaking skills are important in business, sales and selling, training, teaching, lecturing and generally entertaining an audience. Within my adult years I have acquired the skills and overcome the natural fears of presentations and public speaking. Developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations and public speaking, are extremely helpful competencies for self development. Presentations and public speaking skills are limited to certain special people. Not just anyone can give a good presentation, or perform public speaking to a professional and impressive standard. Like many other things in life, it is simply an acquired skill. The formats and purposes of presentations and public speaking can be very different. There is oral, multimedia, power point, short impromptu presentations. Educational training sessions, lectures, or simply giving a talk on a subject to a group requires presentation skills as well. Even speeches at weddings and eulogies at funerals are types of presentations that require skill. All of them are certainly a type of public speaking, and are extremely stressful to most people. Every successful presentation needs the essential technique and structure...
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...LESSONS LEARNT - KING’S SPEECH On Jun 16, 2015, Prof. J Bhatnagar showed the movie ‘King’s Speech’ in the class as part of case study. The film is based on the true story of Prince Albert’s struggle to overcome his public speaking challenges. Not only does he have a stammer in his voice, but like most people, he fears public speaking. The movie is both an entertaining, and very real depiction of the struggles most people face regarding the challenges of public speaking – not because of the King’s stammer, but because of the fear he experiences, and the steps he takes to overcome. At the end of the movie, the class was given an assignment to identify the learnings in the said movie. Based on my understanding of the movie, the learnings and the concepts that featured in the movie are covered in succeeding paragraphs. 1. The importance of the "Informal" or ‘Humour Element’ in Learning. Lionel, the speech therapist, really insists on a first name basis for their teacher - student relationship. He insists on calling the king, "Bertie". Moreover, he stresses informality and humor in the teaching environment. This is so important a concept for learning and dynamic relationship between student and teacher. Research also suggests that using a student's name during instruction can alone, raise scores and help learning, as opposed to no name being used. 2. Credentials are over valued. There is a scene at the end of the movie where the king is angry/overcome upon learning that...
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...a day-to-day basis, whether it is verbal or nonverbal communication. I am currently an employee at Monical’s pizza as a waitress in my hometown, and I have to communicate with my co-workers and customers. At work I consider myself a very outgoing person because I am always looking for someone to talk to, but I am more comfortable around strangers at work because so many different ages of people come into our restaurant. When I get around larger groups of people that are around my age I get really shy and find myself being too quiet so the chances of me meeting new people are very slim. The sad thing is that I love to meet new people because having friends is great, but I am just so bad at making small talk. I have only performed one speech in my whole life and it made me very nervous. My speeches are always prepared well in advance and are very well organized, but I have a very hard time doing the things that I have planned to do during the speech, such as hand gestures and eye contact. I definitely need to work on my writing skills as well as my speaking skills. My first goal that I hope to accomplish this year is to better prepare myself for class/speeches. I hope to accomplish this goal by the end of the year so preparing for my speeches will become a habit and will help me to calm down before giving a speech. Right before I begin my speech my hands start to get really sweaty and I get the shakes, so I plan on trying some of the exercises that the book suggests that we do...
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...------------------------------------------------- Workshop Two BIBLICAL WISDOM Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Mark 11:25 (NIV) “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Bobby Knight, the former coach of Indiana University’s basketball team, had an angry outburst and assaulted one of his players. The university sent him to “anger management” treatment. He subsequently had another major angry outburst and was fired—despite having been one of the most successful college basketball coaches in history! The correct way to stop the whistling teakettle is to turn off the burner. Likewise, the answer to ending angry outbursts is to find the root cause of the anger, and then “turn it off.” Forgiveness will turn off the burner. WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES By the completion of this workshop, the student will be able to: * Evaluate scenarios in which listening has been compromised. * Examine conflict management in the workplace. * Describe barriers of effective listening. * Compare ambiguous and specific language. * Investigate the use of praise and criticism in the workplace. * Create slides using a professional design selected in PowerPoint. ------------------------------------------------- Workshop Two Assignments The following assignments will be submitted prior to Workshop Two. Individual...
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...Public speaking phobia is an intense and irrational fear of experiencing judgment by others when speaking in front of public or being embarrassed or humiliated in such situations causing dread, panic, and avoidance.More accurately, it is not the scrutiny and negative judgments themselves but the speaker’s own emotional response to them; the feeling of shame, rejection or humiliation that causes intense fear in the speaker. Sufferers recognize that their fear is excessive or unreasonable but they feel powerless to do anything to change their responses. I learned to use this in my everyday life when it comes to FEAR which I came up with False Evidence Appearing Real which I love using and letting others know what the meaning means to me. Therefore, the feared situation – such as presentations, speeches, and meetings are avoided or else endured with intense anxiety or distress. In Bill’s situation, he suffers from intense fear of intense fear of public speaking and finds new ways of avoiding situations that involve speaking in front of audience, until his recent promotion at work. Two helpful techniques to reduce nervousness I would do is take a deep breath which is a powerful anxiety-reducing technique because it activates the body’s relaxation response. Last I would question my thoughts because when your anxious, your brains start coming up with all sorts of outlandish ideas, many of which are highly unrealistic. Anxiety is interesting, because it tends to get worse when you try...
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...COPING WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY Moira Kostić-Bobanović, Ph.D. Head of department of foreign languages Faculty of Economics and Tourism, Preradovićeva 1, 52100 Pula Marša Bobanović University of Zagreb Student of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb e-mail: moira.bobanovic@efpu.hr Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the teaching of affective strategies helps students’ reduce their public speaking anxiety. We used the questionnaire Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) developed by McCroskey (1970; 1992) in order to determine the level of anxiety that a student experiences while holding a speech. At the beginning of the semester, the students were asked to fill out the questionnaire by approximating the level of distress that they experience while holding a public presentation. After the teaching of affective strategies at the end of the semester, the students were given the same questionnaire, with the above described instructions. The results of the study indicate that the students experienced significantly less anxiety after they had been taught how to manage their distress, by means of affective strategies. The implication for future research on assessment and amelioration of public speaking anxiety are considered. Key words: speaking anxiety, affective strategies, public speaking 1. INTRODUCTION Anxiety is defined as a state of uneasiness and apprehension or fear caused by the anticipation...
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...Santiago Salas CA105 – Instructor Callan Effective Communication Core Assessment 10 October 2012 I. Introduction II. Body A. Characteristics of an effective communicator. B. Describe and analyze communication in: 1. Small groups 2. Interpersonal settings 3. Intercultural settings 4. Public speaking agendas C. Evaluate communications in: 1. Small groups 2. Interpersonal settings 3. Intercultural settings 4. Public speaking agendas D. Improving your communication and what I’ve learned. III. Conclusion Effective Communication Have you ever seen, heard, or witnessed an individual giving a speech or speaking in front of an audience? What did you think? Did they influence you with their choice of words? Did they communicate in a way in which you understood the information that was presented? Now, think about those in which communication skills were lacking? Big difference, right? Communication is always present, whether it’s through verbal or non-verbal communication. Communication is always being analyzed. We as audience observe this in our everyday lives and see the importance of an effective communicator. To me, an effective communicator must first be confident. Confidence goes a long way and is shown through our self-concept. Our “Self-concept and self-esteem are the two perceptions of self that have the greatest impact on how we communicate” (Verderber, Verderber, Sellnow 17). Along with this, you need...
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...Public speaking makes me nervous and makes it difficult for me to get my message across in a presentation. This class has shown me several techniques to recognize my fear and work towards my goal of becoming an effective speaker. Working towards that goal of becoming an effective speaker will provide an enormous advantage in my goal of becoming an entrepreneur. Through the many exercises in critical thinking, debates, and PowerPoint presentations, you realize how communication is crucial in achieving success. Analyzing the communication process and focusing on the skills required to become an attentive listener has changed my viewpoint in daily interactions. Understanding non-descriptive communication has proven to be vital in improving my interpersonal skills and given me an insight to the receiver’s reaction to my message. “Nonverbal cues can be just as powerful when it comes to sending and receiving information” (Cheesebro, O’Connor, Francisco, 20 p. 10). Knowing the audience allows me to arrange my message for maximum comprehension. This course has also given me an insight into my strengths and weaknesses leading to an improvement in my critical thinking process. “People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically” (Elder, 2007). Developing proper communication has proven to be the most valuable lesson in this course. Without the knowledge and understanding of the communication process and submitting to my fears of public...
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...A person goes up to the podium to do a presentation. Even before he starts speaking his heart starts to beat and his mouth gets dry. He feels slightly nauseous. Once the person starts talking, the heart keeps beating rapidly and the person hears his voice tremble. The whole body starts shaking. He keeps on stammering and stuttering and prays to God for a quick end to his presentation.’ This is actually a common scenario we see everyday whenever people have to speak before others. By understanding the common scenario, I propose to inspect on glossophobia (fear of public speaking). “Glossophobia”, the fear of speaking in public is rated as only second to the fear of snakes and before the fear of dying. Symptoms include intense anxiety prior to or simply at the thought of having to verbally communicate with any group, avoidance of events which focus the group's attention on individuals in attendance, and may even include physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in such circumstances. You may also have shortness of breath, a shaky voice, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, dry mouth, inability to think clearly, a feeling of loss of control, blushing, stuttering, trembling and sudden sweating. Many people report stress-induced speech disorders that are only present during public speech. In business, the cost is incalculable. Imagine missed business opportunities, being passed over for promotion, being reluctant to attend meetings or verbally report on your activities...
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...Ap English III 05/20/16 Aristotelian Argument #3 Jerry Seinfeld once defined people like me, neatly, as those who would be "better off in the casket than doing the eulogy" and I was touched that (according to One Poll's findings) more than half of us feel this way. Yes, public speaking is "really that scary" if you consider the forced attention of a crowd a punishment and not a prize. I can't have been the only one to shiver when Lauren Laverne a pro! muddled her last speech at the Mercury awards on Wednesday, announcing that the winner was James Blunt, not James Blake. What chance does the amateur have of making it through an address without humiliation? Everyone's fears are personal, particular and I suspect quietly cherished. When you're a kid a fear is almost a badge of honour; it helps you begin to define yourself. I can still list my earliest friends and what they were afraid of heights, spiders, Ursula from The Little Mermaid. At that age my stated fear was sharks, and public speaking was easy. I wanted the speaking parts in school plays and then suddenly puberty – it became unthinkable to stand up and say words in front of an audience. For a clear 15 years, from speaking at funerals and at classes , I managed to avoid it. Two years ago, at a wedding, I saw a man give as much of his brain as he feasibly could to feelings of joy, and love of, and the rest, I'm afraid,that I may be lost to terror about a speech. Viv Groskop, journalist, writer...
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